*Ikuforiji  remains speaker

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & GBENGA AKANMU

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has appealed to members of the state’s new House of Assembly to use their tenure as representatives of the people for the purpose of good governance, service to the people and not for selfish interest.

This came even as Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, representing Ikeja Constituency 1, was unanimously re-elected as the speaker to lead the House in the seventh Assembly which began yesterday with the swearing in of new members.

Fashola, in his address at the proclamation and inauguration of the 40- member Assembly, comprising of 18 new and 22 old members, also charged them to give  attention to the legislation of laws that would accelerate the development of the state.

Though the absence of the immediate past governor of the state and the national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was felt, among other dignitaries that attended the inauguration were: wife of the governor, Mrs Dame Abimbola Fashola; deputy governor of  the state, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; party chieftains; members of the diplomatic corps and party faithful.

Fashola said: “The reality is that we are more inter-dependent than we are independent of one another. In other words, we are joined at the hip far more than we care to realize for the purpose of good governance.”

He said the House dominated by members elected on the platform of ACN has all it takes to perform its duties of law making being members of the same party, urging the lawmakers to steer clear of propaganda that makes the electorate to believe that the House members owe them the duty of building roads, hospitals and other infrastructure.

Fashola, therefore, called for more cooperation from the legislators and explained that the fact that he had the constitutional responsibility to proclaim the Assembly and yet had to rely on the approval of the House members to implement certain policies shows the interdependence of both arm of government.

The speaker was nominated by the outgoing chief whip of the House, Razak Balogun, and seconded by another lawmaker, Wahab Alawiye-King.

Ikuforiji was thereafter declared by the clerk of the House, Taiwo Olatunji, after seeking the consent of the lawmakers.

Gov Fashola at the inauguration of the Lagos House of Assembly, yesterday.

The lawmakers also elected the former majority leader and major contender for the position of the speaker, Taiwo Kolawole, as the deputy speaker after he was nominated by a lawmaker representing Mainland Constituency 1, Olanrewaju Oshun, and seconded by Saka Fafunmi, another lawmaker representing Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency 2.

Other principals officers that emerged include Mr Ajibayo Adeyeye as majority leader, while Mrs Lola Akande was made the deputy majority leader. Dr Rasaq Balogun is chief whip and Rotimi Abiru deputy chief whip.

The governor congratulated the newly elected members, adding that he was excited that the number of female lawmakers in the current Assembly had risen from four to seven.